Guy line grab device



Sept. 19, 1961 M. E. HUGHES 3,000,068

GUY LINE GRAB DEVICE Original Filed April 2. 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MARVIN E. HUGHES BY%7nA4 f% ATTORNEY M. E. HUGHES GUY LINE GRAB DEVICE 2 sheets-sheet? Sept. 19, 1961 Original Filed April 2, 1956 FIG. .5

1N VENTOR I1 'IIIIII/d MARVIN E. HUGHES F/G. 7 BY ATTORNEY United States Patent G Claims. (Cl. 24-134) The present invention relates to a guy line grab device and more particularly to a guy line grab device for use with a cable secured to a derrick adapted to service an oil well, and this is a substitute application for the application, Serial No. 575,660, filed on April 2, 195 6, by Marvin E. Hughes 'for Guy Line Grab Device which has become abandoned.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, easy to operate, guy line grab device comprising a non-rotatable drum to hold a line or cable in wrap-around position wherein the cable is secured to the grab device against slippage by a cable engaging dog plus the wrap-around action of the cable on the drum.

Another object of this invention is to provide a guy line grab device having one moving part which can be speedily operated by one man to adjust the length of the guy line and wherein the line is not subject to excessive wear in the use of the grab device.

Still another object is to provide a detachable, easily adjustable, portable line grab device capable of withstanding heavy strain without line slippage and wherein there is only one moving member, a line pinching pivoted dog which is spring operated and biased to assume a line or cable engagement position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a guy line grab device comprising, a base plate, a nonrotatable drum fixed to said plate, said drum including a center core or cable receiving portion and a flange oppositely disposed from said plate, with said flange being provided with a slot to receive a cable therethrough, a lever arm mechanism pivotally carried on the flange side of said drum, and said lever arm mechanism being spring operated and biased to keep one end'of the lever arm normally in the position to grip a cable;

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description thereof and from the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view showing the use of the guy line grab device, and generallyembodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged detail of the guy li-ne grab device in the operating position shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the guy line grab device of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a topplan view of the guy line grab device of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a section along the lines 5--5 of FIG- URE 4 in the direction of the arrows;

7 FIGURE 6 is an endview of the guy line grab device;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken along the lines 7'7 of FIGURE 5 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail of the cam or lever arm.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 20' generally represents the guy linegrab device comprising the features of the present invention, which is made of steel or any other strong metal, or alloy, and generally includes a base plate or body portion 21, having a major axis and a minor axis. It will be noted that the periphery of the drum or core at one point touches or substantially touches an imaginary line. passing through both the zone of anchorage at hole 44 and the stabilizing means such as 42-43. A nonrotatable drum generally indicated by the numeral 22 is secured or fixed to the base plate 21 which is approximately forty-six inches in length, intermediate the ends thereof, and preferably in substantially the mid-portion thereof, by welding or in any other suitable manner. The non-rotatable drum 22 includes a center or circular substantially hollow core portion or cable receiving portion 23 adapted to receive a cable 24 circumferentially therearound, in the operation of the device. The cable 24 is usually a steel cable having a diameter of three-eighths to three-quarters of an inch. The drum 22 includes a circular flange 25 having a diameter greater than the diameter of core 23 and which is oppositely disposed from the base plate 21, but separated by the core 23 so as to provide a spool upon which to wrap the cable 24, it being understood that the length and width of base plate 21, and the diameter of circular flange 25, about sixteen inches, are both greater than the diameter of the central circular core 23, about twelve inches, of the drum 22 so that the cable 24 will not slide off of the central core 23 in the operation of the device.

The flange or side face 25 is provided in its face with a cutaway portion 26, as best shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, to provide access to the hollow core 23. An intermediate wall 27 is disposed within the core 23 between the flange 25 and the base plate 21 to limit the area within core 23 extending inwardly from said cutaway portion. 26 in the face of the flange 25. The core 23 has a brokenaway portion 23a in the circumference adjacent the ends of slot 28 to seat the cable 24.

In addition to the cutaway portion 26 in flange 25 which communicates with the interior of core 23, there is provided a slot 28, about three-fourths of an inch in width, in the flange 25 spaced from cutaway section 26, which also communicates with the interior of core 23 and is limited by the internal or intermediate wall 27, and a segment or other seat 27a which extends from the inner face of flange 25 to wall 27 about an eighth of an inch above the inner portion of slot 28, which said segment 27a being perpendicular, or extending at right angles, from the inner face of flange 25 and from one side of the internal wall 27, so that a space is provided inwardly of flange 25 through opening 28 to seat or carry the cable 24 in the operation of the guy line grab device. The upper opening or slot 28 in the face of flange 25 is elongated and extends across the face of flange 25 and flares at the edges thereof to render it more easy to dispose cable 24 through the slot 28.

As best shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawing, a cable grab means generally indicated by the numeral 30 is pivotally carried so that a major portion thereof is disposed Within core 23 in the area formed inwardly of the flange 25, and limited by wall 27, segment 27a and a portion of the circumference of core 23.

As best shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawing, the cable or line grab means which is pivotally carried in an operative position includes a clamp or lever arm mechanism having an elongated portion 31 of rectangular cross section merging into a reduced coaxial portion 32 of lesser thickness than portion 31 but also rectangular in cross section. The portion 32 in turn merges with a crank portion 33 which in turn has an offset handle knob 34 on the free end portion thereof. Knob 34 extends at right angles from portion 33, that is to say perpendicularly from the major axis of portions 31 and 32.

On the other end of portion 31, remote from handle knob 34, there is provided an end portion 35 which is laterally offset from portion 31. -A free end 35a is disposed at the end of portion 35, and the surface of 35a is grooved and serrated to provide a better gripping surface for cable 24, with the dimensions of the groove in end 35a generally conforming to the diameter of cable 24 to get the best grip. a

The laterally offset portion 35 is provided with an aperture 36 adapted to receive a pivot pin 37 which extends through a suitable aperture in the base plate 21, an apertrue or opening in wall 27, and through a suitable opening 38 in the central portion of circular flange 25, there being a head 39 disposed on the end of pin 37 exteriorly of the base plate 2.1, and a cotter pin 40 disposed in a suitable hole in the end portion of pin 37, exteriorly of flange 25, so as to hold the lever mechanism in position for a pivotal movement, as the knob 34 is pulled-in a counter-clockwise direction.

The lever arm mechanism whichcomprises the cable grabbing means of the present device is spring operated. There is provided an eye 33a on the side of the reduced portion 32, approximately at the crank portion 33. There is provided another eye 33bdisposed on the inner Wall of 25, with eyes 33a and 33b being connected by a spring 330 which normally keeps the serrated grooved end 35a of the dog or lever disposed inengagement'with cable 24 when the guy line grab-device is in operation. In

other words, the spring 33c is biased to move the lever in a clockwise direction, or a line engaging position.

As best shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawing, the lever arm mechanism comprising the cable grab means is pivotally carriedby pin 37 and is disposed substantially within the hollow core 23 inwardly from the cutaway portion 26 and slot 28 in the space or inner compartment limited by wall 27, segment 27a and a portion of the circumference of core 23 adjacent the slot 28. The crank 33 is proportioned or offset to dispose the free end thereof and the knob 34 onthe exterior side of flange 25.

The cam action of the lever arm is such that the cable 24 is locked in the space inwardly from slot 28, which space is limited 'by'segment or seat 27a, a portion of wall 27 and the surface area ofgrooved' and serrated end 35a. i

At one end portion of base plate 21 there is provided cable stabilizing means 41 which comprise two L shaped or hook members 42 and 43 which are adjacent each other, and with one member having an open mouth in one direction and the other being inverted and having an open mouth in the reverse direction so as to provide a simple means to keep the cable 24 in position on plate 21 so that there will be no turning thereof during the operation of the device.

At the other end of the lengthwise portion of base plate 21, there 'is provided an aperture 44 which is adapted to receive a cable 45 or any other device for tightening cable 24, which is anchored to a concrete mem ber 46 which is embedded inthe ground;

Reinforcing member 47 is secured to the surface of the base plate 21 at the position of the aperture 44 so as to lend additional strength at this section;

As shown in FIGURE 1, there are normally four guy lines 24 secured to the derrick Dand four guy line grab devices 20. There are also four dead men 46 to which anchor cables 45 or other suitable devices are attached. The derrick D is normally supported by guy lines. from the four corners of a square, and the blocks 46 are normally about sixty feet from the derrick.

In the operation of the device, the cable 24 is threaded through the stabilizing means 41 and wrapped three or four turns around the drum core and is then slid through the slot28, after first pulling the exterior knob 34 in .a counter-clockwise direction against the spring 33c so as to'move the end 35a out of the space inwardly of and bears against segment 27a and a portion, of wall 27..

If it is desired to take more cable oif of the drum, the reverse operation is employed, where again the operator pulls the knob 34 which is positioned externally of the flange 25 in a counter-clockwise direction so as to move the serrated grooved end 35a of the pivot arm out of engagement with the cable 24. The operator then slides cable 24 out through the cross slot 28, and unwraps-a portion of the cable 24 from the non-rotatable drum until a sufficient length has been reached. The cable 24 is then slid back through the slot 28, and the operator lets go of the exterior knob '34 and the pivot armthrough the action of the spring 330 again returns to its normalposition wherein the serrated and grooved end 35a of the lever arm bites against the cable 24 to hold the same in place against slippage.

It is one of the main concepts of this invention to provide a guy line grab device comprising, a non-rotatable drum, with said drum having a cable receiving slot extending across one side face thereof, with a lever arm being pivotally carried by said drum and with said lever arm being spring operated and biased to keepone end of the lever arm normally disposed inwardly and adjacent the said slot so as to be visible therethrough.

A further concept is to provide a guy line grab device comprising, a base plate having a minor axis and a major axis, a non-rotatable drum having a substantially hollow cable receiving portion andbeing fixed to said plate, said drum having a slot extending across one side face thereof oppositely disposed from said base plate, V

the slot in said face and the major axis of said base plate being substantially parallel, a lever arm pivotally carried within the said cable receiving portion of said drum, and said lever arm being spring operated and biased to keepportion thereof extending through said cutaway portion to provide a lever arm handle, and said lever arm being biased to keep one end thereof normally disposed adjacent to said slot. 7

Other modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit thereof and it is therefore desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A guy line grab device comprising a base-plate 7 adapted to be anchored at one zone thereof, said base plate having a portion extending in the opposite direction from the zone of anchorage, cable guide means extending beyond one face of said base plate, a drum extending from the said face of said base plate disposed substantially at one side of: an imaginary line passing through said zone and cable guide means and'having its periphery close at one point to said line, a side plate at slot 23, so that the'line or cable, 24 can be slid'through the slot 28. When the cable 24is properly positioned I v in the inner compartment within core 23, the operator lets go of the knob 34 and spring 33c pulls the lever arm back in a clockwise direction so that the serrated grooved end 35a ofthe lever mechanism engages the cable 24 in a biting manner so as-to prevent movement or slippage.

thereof. Cable 24 is seated in the grooved end 35a the side of the drum opposite to said base plate provid-- ing a marginal flange around said drum, means within the drum confining and providing a seat for the terminalportion of a cable, said side plate having a slot therethrough through which the terminal portion of a cable is insentable into engagement with said seat, said side plate having a cut-away.portion, and a clamp lever, devicepivoted within the drum and operable. from the. exterior of the. drum, extending through said cut-away. portion andfsaid clamp. lever. device having a.-'portion withinsaid drum to clamp the terminal portion of the. 7

cable agains'tsaid seat.

2. A' guy line grabdevice according to where-Q in thepcn'phery of'said drum is materially wider than said means in order to accommodate a plurality of wrappings of the cable side by side in direct contact with said periphery.

3. A guy line grab device according to claim 1 wherein said means within the drum is adjacent said side plate, and said clamp lever device has a handle portion extending through said cut-away portion to enable operation from the exterior of the drum.

4. A guy line grab device according to claim 1 wherein 'said drum has a wall interiorly thereof limiting the extent of insertion of and confining the terminal portion of the cable against said seat.

5. A guy line grab device according to claim 1 wherein said base plate has an anchorage hole at the said zone, and said cable guide means is of book construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 671,876 Beardsley Apr. 9, 1901 2,473,071 Pieper June 14, 1949 2,638,284 Rahfuse May 12, 1953 10 2,846,162 Allin Aug. 5, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 566,919 Germany Dec. 23, 1932 

